Lawn-rake.



H. A. HOVENDEN.

LAWN RAKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1913.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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wi liuaoozo Gavan THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTC-LITHG., WASHINGTON, Ii L.

H. A. HOVENDEN.

LAWN RAKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. 1913.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915,.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 fliflrawvfl Hovenderu,

attomug *HE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON D, C.

v To all whom it may concern eras HIBRAM AIlFRED HOVENIDEN, OFSANDPOINT, IDAHO, AQSIGNOR OF ONE-HALE TO ALEXANDER ENDS, OF SANDPOINT,IDAHO.

LAWN-RAKE.

Be it known that'I', HIRRAM ALFRED Hovmvnmv, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Sandpoint, in the county of Bon-- ner and State ofIdaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in .LawnRakes, of whichthe following isaspecification.

The invention providescan implement designed chiefly for removingleaves, grass and trash from the lawn, said implement embodying a mainframe. mounted upon wheels which are used as drivers for operating anendless belt, which in. conjunction with spring gathering teeth ofpeculiar form delivers the material gathered into the I catcher.

The invention provides a frame of novel structure, a removable catcherfitted to the frame, a gatherer embodying spring teeth of peculiar formand an endless drag for moving the material gathered over the teeth andeffecting a discharge thereof into the catcher. 5

The invention consistsof the novel fea tures, details of constructionand combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularlyset forth,illustrated in the ac-,

companying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referrlng to the drawings, forminga I part ofthe specification, Figure 1is a perspecti-ve view of a lawn rake embodying the invention. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the mainframe having the catcher and endless drag removed. Fig. 4 is a detailview of one of the spring teethandthe supporting bar therefor. Fig. 5 isa'detail, view of the catcher.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the samereference characters. v

The main frame comprises side pieces 1, an upper rear cross bar 2 and alower forward cross bar 3. Stub axles project out: wardly from the sidepieces 1 and are utilized as connecting means for securing the ends ofthe cross bar 2 to the side pieces -1. lVheels 5 are mounted upon thestub axles 4 and each is provided with an internally toothed gearfi. Abar 7 is located at the front edge of the cross bar 3 and is attachedthereto. A plurality of spring teeth 8 are secured to the bar 7, each ofSpecification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 23, 1313.Serial No. 763,112.

Patented Mar. 39, 1915.

such teeth being approximately of V form and consisting of a lowermember 9 and an upper member 10. The lower member 9 is let into the bar7 whereas the upper member 10 curves upwardly and rearwardly, thencedownwardly at its rear end, as indicated at 11. The upper members 10 ofthe spring teeth are longer than the lower members and overhang andclear the bar 7 so as to discharge the material gathered upon thecatcher. The teeth 8 are formed of lengths of stout wire doubled uponthemselves, the folds being short so as to form in effect gatheringpoints which pass under leaves, grass and trash and leave the samewithout injuring of the lawn so as to remove all litter and loosematerial in the path of the rake when the latter is propelled thereover.

A roller 12 is journaled between the front ends of the side pieces 1above the front ends of the teeth 8. A second roller 13 is mounted inthe side pieces 1 some distance in the rear of the cross bar 3 and in ahigher plane soas toelevate the rear por tion of the endless drag. Theends of the roller 13 project beyond the side pieces 1 and have pinions14 secured thereto, which are in mesh with the internally toothed gears6, thereby admitting of the roller 13 being positively driven by therotation of the wheels 5 when the rake is propelled over the lawn. Theendless drag consists of a belt or apron 15 which passes around and issupported by the rollers 12 and 13, said endless belt being provided atintervals in its length with lags 16, which make positive engagement.with the loose material to be gathered so as to move the same over theteeth 8 and effect a discharge thereof upon the catcher. Thelowerportion of the endless drag is arranged to press lightly upon theupper members 10 of the spring teeth so as to positively move thematerial there- The catcher is located in the rear of the gatheringdevices and comprises a lower portion 17 and an upright portion 18. The

abuts. The upright portion 18 prevents the loose material from escapingfrom the catcher after being delivered therein. The catcher in itspreferable construction embodies a light frame of metal and a textilestretched thereover. The frame is of reetangular form and has its sidemembers bent substantially at a right angle to correspond with theportions 17 and 18 of the catcher. A rod 19 is located at the angle.formed by bending the side members of the frame, said rod serving tobrace the side membersof the frame at an intermediate point and also tosupport the textile closing the. frame and secured thereto and servingas supporting means for the material. Handle bars 20 are secured to theside pieces 1 and extend upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and areconnected by means of a cross bar 21. The upright portion 18 of thecatcher passes between the handle bars 20 and may be secured theretofrictionally or in any desired way. The longitudinal edges of thecatcher engage the inner faces of the side pieces 1 and are retained inplace by frictional engagement or otherwise.

The device is used for collecting leaves, grass and litter generally bybeing pushed over the lawn with the front ends of the spring teeth 8held loosely in contact with the surface so as to pass under thematerial to be gathered, such material when engaged by the teeth andpassing thereon being positively moved therefrom and deposited in thecatcher by means of the endless drag which is driven so that its lowerportion travels upwardly and rearwardly. When the catcher has received aquantity of material it may be removed from the main frame, therebyadmitting of such material being easily dumped in the required place ofdischarge, after which the catcher may be easily and quickly replaced sothat if necessary the device may be further continued in service. Theimplement is light, strong and durable and is capable of being easilymanipulated by hand.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of themethod of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artto which the invention appertains, and while I have described theprinciple of operation of the in cents each, by ad'd'z'eumg Washington,D. G!

porting the rear portions of the main frame,

a drag, a toothed bar supported by andsecured to the front portion ofthe lower for ward cross bar and provided in its front edge. with springteeth, said teeth being. of V substantially V'-form and constituting ashort lower member and a long upper mem-' ber, said'uppermembers beingof a length to "permit the same to overhang the toothed bar and thelower bar and the free end of each upper arm being formed with adownwardly curved portion, the upper member serving as 'a supportformaterial carriedby the drag, the curved, portions, facilitating thedischarge of said material. 7 V

2. A lawn rake embodying side faces", an upper, rearbar and a lowerforward cross bar connecting the side pieces, and wheels supporting therear portion'of the'main frame, a toothed bar supported by and securedto the front portion of the lower forward cross bar and provided in itsfront.

edge with spring teeth of substantially V- form, the upper members ofsuch teeth overhanging the toothedbar and thelower bar, an endless dragarranged'to move the ma terial over the upper members of the springteeth, handle bars extending upwardly-and rearwardly. from the sidepieces ofthe main frame, and. a catcher'removably and frictionally heldbetween the side pieces and handle bars. and having its front portionresting upon the rear part of the before mentioned "lower bar andabutting against the'rear edge of said toothed bar.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses,HIRRAM ALFRED HOVENDENT Witnesses:

RICHARD FAULKING OR, 7 WILLIAM G. MoKnn.

the Commissioner of Iatents,

